Taiwanese Jailed for Trying To Buy U.S. Missiles, Jet Engines for China

AFP - A Taiwanese man was sentenced to six and a half years in prison Monday for trying to buy U.S. military missiles and aircraft engines for China, Miami federal prosecutors said.

Ko-suen Moo, also known as Bill Moo, was arrested last November and accused together with French citizen Maurice Serge Voros of conspiring to acquire air-to-air and air-to-ground missiles and engines for F-16 fighter jets and Blackhawk helicopters to send to China.

Moo was convicted of being an unregistered agent for China and of conspiring to illegally broker and export military-related equipment to China. He was also charged with attempted bribery for having tried to buy his freedom from the officers who arrested him.

In addition to his prison sentence he was fined one million dollars.

”Today’s lengthy sentence confirms that American security and justice will not be compromised and are simply not up for sale,” said U.S. attorney Alexander Acosta in a statement.

Voros, who helped Moo establish his contacts in the United States, meanwhile remains a fugitive.